Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced free transport facility for all differently-abled people in APSRTC buses and assured them that Amaravati would be built as a disability-friendly city.
Participating in a programme organised on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Vijayawada on Wednesday, the Chief Minister made seven announcements for the welfare of differently-abled people in the State. The announcements include extension of economic subsidy schemes, ensuring access for persons with disabilities to all sports activities through Sports Authority of A.P., establishment of a special degree college, a bhavan for them in every district, allocation of houses on the ground-floor through housing schemes, distribution of pensions to differently-abled students in colleges or hostels.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu also announced that differently-abled people would be nominated as ex-officio members in every government body and people’s representative institutions.
“Differently-abled people are not weak. Determination and perseverance set them apart from the others,” the Chief Minister said, congratulating cricketers T.C. Deepika, P. Karuna Kumari and I. Ajay Kumar Reddy on their achievement in cricket. He added that Ms. Deepika and Karuna Kumari, both of them hailing from Andhra Pradesh, showed excellence in the recently held Women’s World Blind T20 Cricket tournament.
Showering praises on them, the Chief Minister pointed out how they did not let their disability come in the way of success. He said the NDA government was committed to building an inclusive society, removing obstacles, and designing supportive policies.
He said disability pension was first launched by former Chief Minister late N.T. Rama Rao. At first, it was ₹35, which was then increased to ₹50 in 1986 and to ₹200 in 2006, recalled Mr. Chandrababu Naidu. He said it was during his previous tenure that the pension was hiked to ₹3,000 and now it has been increased to ₹6,000.
He added that the State government was distributing hearing aids, tricycles, wheelchairs to 14,000 people. Through Mega DSC, 2,260 Special Education Teachers’ posts have been created, he pointed out, adding that the National Centre for Disability Sports Stadium will soon come up in Visakhapatnam.
The Chief Minister later announced ₹15 lakh financial assistance to Ms. Karuna Kumari, along with the construction of a house for her. He announced ₹10 lakh and a house for Ms. Deepika and ₹2.5 lakh cash for Mr. Ajay Kumar Reddy.
Published – December 03, 2025 11:46 pm IST
